In his last book, Finding The Blue Sky (published in 2016 by Penguin/Random House), he recounts his own journey toward wellbeing and happiness through mindfulness. These steps are outlined clearly in the book: Each chapter starts with a Zen story, and continues with a discussion and exposition of the theme, and ends with a set of exercises for applying that teaching to real-life situations. Joseph had begun his Zen training with Roshi Robert Aitken in Hawaii, and passed his first koan with him in 1995. He then continued his training with Thich Nhat Hanh in Plum Village, in France.

Joseph started the Mindfulness Meditation Centre in 1997, because he had found the practice of mindfulness very helpful in his own life, and wanted to share it with others. On January 14, 2003, he was invited by Thich Nhat Hanh to receive the Lamp Transmission as a Dharma teacher. His Dharma name is Dwelling in Peaceful Concentration. He has been trying to live up to that name ever since. Joseph has trained several thousand people in mindfulness practices in large and small groups, for organizations, and in private sessions.

Joseph holds a Doctorate in Music from Boston University. He has been certified in Reality Therapy Counselling with Dr. William Glasser, and has been a Fulbright scholar. He has been a long time T’ai Chi practitioner with Master Lee Shiu Pak, one of the original Yang school students.

Contact: josephemet @ gmail.com (please remove all spaces)

Chantal Jacques – (Co-leader)

Chantal has been practicing since she was introduced to it in 2002 by Joseph Emet at the Mindfulness Meditation Center. It helps her to better respond to the stresses of working and parenting . She is an occupational therapist that has integrated her mindfulness practice into her work by offering guided meditations to hundreds of employees on their lunch break since 2008.

In May of 2014, Chantal was invited by Thich Nhat Hanh to receive the tranmission of the lamp hence becoming a teacher in his lineage. She tries to live up to her name: True Force of Peace, in her work with veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces who suffer from operational stress injuries. She has trained in acceptance and commitment therapy and uses guided meditation to enhance outcomes in individual and group treatments.